Storm damage leaves a dozen residents stranded in Cape Breton community
About a dozen people are still stranded after a storm battered Cape Breton earlier this week.
The local hospital, has also had to call in more staff after a major road was washed out, making for a much longer commute for care.
A bridge in the community of Tarbotvale is the only link for some residents and during this week’s storm it was ripped apart and reduced to rubble and sent floating down stream.
“There's an older couple that live right by where the bridge went and they heard their whole house vibrate because they're very close to the river.” Says Barbara Longva, a Victoria County Councillor.
A dozen people are still without phone service and internet.
The only way to receive supplies right now is by rope, put up by local residents, stretching across the river.
“I'm sure they could get a helicopter or cross the river by boat once things quiet down in case of an emergency, but right now they're just doing the little basket across the river to get essentials.” Says Longva.
“With the wind and stuff it was really wild and pretty relentless.” Says Craig Jackson, a resident in Ingonish. “Up against that house the big window was kind of flexing a bit.”
Farther north, officials are dealing with infrastructure damage.
Roads have been ripped a part through many sections of the Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
“Parks Canada has moved in some heavy equipment and they're beginning construction to reconstruct the road. So far the optimistic time frame is 7 to 10 days.” Says Lyle Donovan, EMO co-ordinator for Victoria County.
As a result, residents in Ingonish have to drive more than 3 hours along the western side of the island to get to the hospital in Neil’s’ Harbour.
It's creating havoc for the staff who works there.
“Between the nursing home and the hospital they're pulling double shifts and they switch out crews set up and there are further plans in the works.” Says Donovan.
Back in Tarbotvale, councillor Barbara Longva says crews are focusing on repairing roads, but says it will be weeks and possibly months before bridges are replaced.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Quebec nurse had to clean up after husband's death in Montreal hospital
On a night she should have been mourning, a nurse from Quebec's Laurentians region says she was forced to clean up her husband after he died at a hospital in Montreal.
Northern Ont. lawyer who abandoned clients in child protection cases disbarred
A North Bay, Ont., lawyer who abandoned 15 clients – many of them child protection cases – has lost his licence to practise law.
Bank of Canada officials split on when to start cutting interest rates
Members of the Bank of Canada's governing council were split on how long the central bank should wait before it starts cutting interest rates when they met earlier this month.
Maple Leafs fall to Bruins in Game 3, trail series 2-1
Brad Marchand scored twice, including the winner in the third period, and added an assist as the Boston Bruins downed the Toronto Maple Leafs 4-2 to take a 2-1 lead in their first-round playoff series Wednesday
Cuban government apologizes to Montreal-area family after delivering wrong body
Cuba's foreign affairs minister has apologized to a Montreal-area family after they were sent the wrong body following the death of a loved one.
'It was instant karma': Viral video captures failed theft attempt in Nanaimo, B.C.
Mounties in Nanaimo, B.C., say two late-night revellers are lucky their allegedly drunken antics weren't reported to police after security cameras captured the men trying to steal a heavy sign from a downtown business.
What is changing about Canada's capital gains tax and how does it impact me?
The federal government's proposed change to capital gains taxation is expected to increase taxes on investments and mainly affect wealthy Canadians and businesses. Here's what you need to know about the move.
New Indigenous loan guarantee program a 'really big deal,' Freeland says at Toronto conference
Canada's Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland was among the 1,700 delegates attending the two-day First Nations Major Projects Coalition (FNMPC) conference that concluded Tuesday in Toronto.
'Life was not fair to him': Daughter of N.B. man exonerated of murder remembers him as a kind soul
The daughter of a New Brunswick man recently exonerated from murder, is remembering her father as somebody who, despite a wrongful conviction, never became bitter or angry.